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C.Alford 'Afforce' to Reckon with

By Epsom Ace | 11 Feb 2009 | KOLKATA


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Jockey Christopher Alford rode another five winners at the Calcutta racecourse on Wednesday. The quintet which were first past the winning post were Apyrous, Absolutely Royal, Afforce, Antonello and Exclusivity. The odd one out in the six-event card was Bath-trained Master Coup, ridden by able apprentice B. Mahesh.

The afternoon commenced with a piece of masterly riding by the local champion astride Apyrous. The on-money favourite Spectacular Style appeared to be sluggish while Apyrous was not too forward himself. It was left to Javed Khan-trained Xray to try and run away with the Artwork Plate run over six furlongs. However, Alford was hard at work on Apyrous from the distance marker and it ultimately paid dividends on the last stride.

The main event of the afternoon, The Delhi Race Club Cup, was pocketed by Alford atop the 3/1 second favourite Afforce. Conquering Love, with apprentice Mahesh astride, was backed down to favouritism and issued his challenge to the leader Queen of Hearts after heads turned for home. However, Alford cleverly forged a passage down the centre (after finding the rails blocked) to win comfortably.

Two of his winners were piping hot favourites at cramped odds. Absolutely Royal won the Goldfinder Handicap by a widening margin from aged One Man Army while Antonello left the field cold while winning the M.B. Medhora Trophy.

Exclusivity won the afternoon's final event, The Siranoosh Handicap, at surprisingly decent odds to complete a lucrative afternoon for the followers of the ace rider.

Apprentice B. Mahesh notched up his career's tenth winner while atop Master Coup. He took the speedster to the helm of affairs and stayed there all the way by taking the shortest route home. Saarah Alam ran on to occupy the runner-up berth while Lizzy Arden was totally off colour.

Trainer Vijay Singh led in four winners during the afternoon while H.S. Bath scored a brace.

ALFORD SUSPENDED: The Stewards held an enquiry into C. Alford's handling of Antenor in the Police Commissioner's Cup run last Saturday. They found him guilty of injudicious riding and suspended him from riding in races from February 21 till March 13 (both days inclusive). This effectively means that he will have to sit out the Derby to be run on February 28.